Haphephobia

Haphephobia[1] (also known as aphephobia,[1] haphophobia,[2] hapnophobia, haptephobia,[1] haptophobia,[1][2] thixophobia[1]) is a rare specific phobia that involves the fear of touching or of being touched. This is often associated with a fear of sexual assault. Michel Dorais reports that many boys who have been the victims of sexual abuse have a fear of being touched, quoting one victim who describes being touched as something that "burns like fire", causing him to freeze up or lash out.[3]

Symptoms

As with other phobias and anxiety conditions, haphephobia may come with anxiety and stress-related symptoms that vary among those that suffer from it. A non-exhaustive list of potential symptoms that those suffering from haphephobia may have includes:[4]

  • Chest pain
  • Choking sensation
  • Cold or hot flashes
  • Dissociation
  • Dizziness
  • Fear of dying
  • Fear of loss of control
  • Feeling of being trapped
  • Heart palpitations
  • Hyperventilation
  • Nausea
  • Sense of impending danger
  • Sweating
  • Tingling sensations
  • Trembling
  • Cholinergic urticaria

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Charles Harrington Elster (1996). There's a Word for It!. Scribner. p. 160. ISBN 0684824558.
  2. 1 2 Laurence Urdang; Anne Ryle; Tanya H. Lee (1986). -ologies & -isms. Gale Research Co. p. 557. ISBN 0810311968.
  3. ↑ Michel Dorais (2002). Don't Tell: The Sexual Abuse of Boys. McGill-Queen's Press — MQUP. p. 84. ISBN 0773522611.
  4. ↑ "Symptoms". Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA.
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